Just moving into a new home and doing nothing would make me so twitchy. I need to put my stamp on things as soon as possible, even if the change is minimal, unfinished, and at the expense of a plan. I like a fresh canvas. The powder room is slated for a full gut job when the laundry room and kitchen see their Phase II renovations but until then, like the kitchen and laundry room, I had to give it a little facelift.
Behold…the oak-less, duck-less space:
Here’s a reminder of the “before”:
I’m the first to admit it’s a pretty unremarkable makeover – it just sort of happened, despite my having a million neat ideas. (Do you have any rooms like that?) Still, it just feels so much better! Newer, fresher, cleaner, and brighter.
I painted the walls, ceiling, trim, and door white when the rest of the house was painted. When the main bathroom got it’s makeover, I used leftover supplies to paint the oak cabinetry grey, the dated 90s tile cream, and the gold light fixtures and hardware matte black – thanks to my friends at Rust-Oleum. A matching towel ring courtesy of Plumber’s Surplus replaced the old towel bar and glass shelf (not pictured). Hubby’s Grandpa’s bold green painting, hung in a fit of “all of our favorite art will get damaged if we don’t hang it right this second!!” makes a great statement. In the adjacent laundry room there are two more of his paintings so it feels planned. The other two prints in the washroom are from Hungary.
Because I don’t have a floor plan for the house, this photo might help a bit. The powder room is just beyond the laundry room.
Since initially updating the powder room, I’ve thought about going bolder – maybe hanging my silhouettes en masse? They would have so much more impact in a small space. Turquoise stripes on the wall? A bright green ceiling? Because it’s immediately beyond the turquoise adorned laundry room and the bold turquoise kitchen, I think guests might like some respite from the bold choices to collect their thoughts in the more neutral powder room.
While I ponder, I’m turning my attention back to other projects. We need bedroom curtains and closet doors. The office is demanding to be more than a glorified storage room. The Etsy shop is currently a maze of boxes. Plus I have gallons upon gallons of exterior paint and deck stain taking up real estate in the garage. I also have a hankering for a really do-able, afternoon-type project.
So I’m especially happy I gave this space a little love when I had the chance, even if it’s kind of humble.
it looks great- i love the colorful art!
Thanks Cassie! Art (and fabric) are my easy answers – they always make a space look better. I'd still love to do something bolder in there…
I love the idea of stripes- could you take your turquoise and just tone it down a little ( like same color with additional white) and do wide pale stripes? That way would tie in with the rest of the house but wouldn't detract from the bold colors in the art. Just my two cents! 🙂
Love that idea!!
I really like the lighter colors that you used in the bathroom. It made everything look much brighter and the pictures also give it a nice touch. Looks good!
Thanks Rick. I'm continually amazed at what an impact just a little paint can have.
Its the small refreshes that make the biggest difference sometimes! This looks so good and fresh. Itll def hold ya over til its time to start anew. Great job!
Thanks Shavonda! I'm so happy to be rid of the oak and duck-theme. Other rooms shine so even if this one is a little plain for now, just having it freshened up helps it flow with the rest of the house.
It looks so much better with a lick of paint and art works. We left our rooms until we were ready to renovate them completely which means my beige laundry/toilet has been boring and beige for 5 years now, but we are finally at the gut and painting stage now. Cant wait to get a fresh colour on the walls, it makes all the difference!
You must be so excited for the bathroom reno!! Five years is a long time to wait.
This looks really amazing! My husband and I are about to do the Restoleum kit in the color Castle as well. We have oak cabinets. Did you find you had any trouble with the grain showing through too much?
Hi Shaya,This post has a close up photo that shows how much grain showed:http://danslelakehouse.com/2013/11/refinishing-bathroom-cabinets.htmlThe grain did show, but I liked that it showed a little. If I had applied another coat, I think less would have showed. In my kitchen I have oak too but I used a paint sprayer with paint and that application REALLY helped disguise the grain.If you're curious, here's an update on the Rust-Oleum:http://danslelakehouse.com/2015/05/honest-thoughts-on-bathroom-mini_8.htmlAnd I also used the Rust-Oleum on melamine cabinets:http://danslelakehouse.com/2016/11/budget-friendly-grey-gold-pink-kitchen.htmlIn this post I review different kinds of paint/refinishing:http://danslelakehouse.com/2014/08/cabinet-refinishing-paint-vs-stain-vs.htmlHopefully those posts with additional (better) photos help! I really loved the Rust-Oleum kits and used them again and again.